Have you ever told a white lie? Alice was to bake a cake for the Church Ladies' Group, but forgot to do it until the last minute. She remembered it the morning of the bake sale and after rummaging through cabinets, found an angel food cake mix & quickly made it while drying her hair, dressing, and helping her son pack up for Scout camp. When she took the cake from the oven, the center had dropped flat and the cake was horribly disfigured and she exclaimed, "Oh dear, there is not time to bake another cake!" This cake was important to Alice because she did so want to fit in at her new church, and in her new community of friends. So, being inventive, she looked around the house for something to build up the center of The cake. She found it in the bathroom - a roll of toilet paper. She plunked it in and then covered it with icing. Not only did the finished product look beautiful, it looked perfect. And, before she left the house to drop the cake by the church and head for work, Alice woke her daughter and gave her some money and specific instructions to be at the bake sale the moment it opened at 9:30 and to buy the cake and bring it home. When the daughter arrived at the sale, she found the attractive, perfect cake had already been sold. Amanda grabbed her cell phone & called her mom. Alice was horrified-she was beside herself! Everyone would know! What would they think? She would be ostracized, talked about, ridiculed! All night, Alice lay awake in bed thinking about people talking about her behind her back. The next day, Alice promised herself she would try not to think about the cake and would attend the bridal shower at the home of a fellow church member and try to have a good time. She did not really want to attend, but having already RSVP'd , she couldn't think of a believable excuse to stay home. The meal was elegant, and, to Alice 's horror, the cake in question was presented for dessert! Alice felt the blood drain from her body when she saw the cake! She started out of her chair to tell the hostess all about it, but before she could get to her feet, another woman exclaimed, "What a beautiful cake!" Alice, still stunned, sat back in her chair when she heard the hostess (who was a prominent church member) say, "Thank you, I baked it myself.." Alice smiled and thought to herself, "God is good.”

What’s Right? We focus so much on everything that’s wrong, but there is so much that is right! How easy to list everything that is wrong: what’s wrong with your world/life/teachers/the community/the government, but there is great value in focusing on the good, the positive, the desires of God are wanting the best for his children. Society criticizes the church, everything that is wrong with her: too restrictive, too judgmental, too unfriendly, too opinionated, to exclusive…I want to look at what’s right.

Fear is an ordinary part of life, though it may not feel all that ordinary when we experience it. We are born afraid and some of us will die afraid. In modern America we do as much as we can to stem that feeling of fear. We save up money in bank accounts and even stash it under mattresses. We purchase gold instead of stocks for fear of the market crashing. Many fear where their next meal is coming from or where they will stay the night. The most common fear people have spans cultures and time and the strange thing is everyone will experience it. Death. Often times when someone is told they have cancer they change their diet, read new books, and research everything they can about the disease. If you have not experienced fear allow me to share; think of the worst thing that could happen to someone you love. Now you have experienced fear.

I knew a man that was visiting one of the Smithsonian buildings on the mall in Washington D.C. He was on a large landing between floors when suddenly a large contingent of secret service members and dignitaries came sweeping up the steps to the landing where he was innocently looking at a painting on the wall. As the crowd reached the landing, they stopped, and the sea of people parted, and there was President Clinton accompanied by (I think) Saddat. President Clinton stepped forward, and extended his hand. What do you say when confronted face to face with the President of the United States. The man's response: “God Bless You Mr. President.” And then just as quickly the crowd moved on to the next floor.

(Note: This message was accompanied by a 20 minutes slide show of images from Mount Baker) God quizzes Job with a series of questions of God’s amazing work. For example, READ Job 38:24-30. I have chosen images from the slopes of Mt. Baker, a few from the devastation of Mt. St. Helens, the crevasses, the clouds, the glaciers, some standing on the edge of the crater looking down upon the steam vents of Mt. Baker, simply as a backdrop of God’s amazing works of nature. All these slides were taken by my father and myself…

Carl Crouse, Pastor

At SACC we believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Every Sunday the worship service includes a message from the Bible. My words are an attempt to understand and apply the Bible to our daily living. I post weekly sermons and other biblical messages on this page. May you find meaning and hope as you read through each message and seek to hear God's voice. Leave a comment to ask questions or inspire others with your insights.

In general, the previous Sunday's sermon will be posted by Tuesday afternoon.